Qur'an
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meaning | "The Recitation" (Arabic: القرآن) |
| Author | Allah (God) |
| Messenger | Muhammad ﷺ |
| Language | Classical Arabic |
| Revealed | 610–632 CE (approx. 23 years) |
| First Revelation | Cave of Hira (Makkah) |
| Chapters (Surahs) | 114 |
| Verses (Ayahs) | 6,236 (standard Kufic count) |
| Period | Meccan (86 Surahs) & Medinan (28 Surahs) |
In the view of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah (Sunni Islam), the Qur'an is defined as the Speech of Allah (Kalam Allah), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril), in the Arabic language. It is considered a miracle (Mu'jizah) in its wording and meaning, its recitation is an act of worship, and it has been transmitted via mass-continuity (Tawatur), ensuring its preservation without corruption.
It is distinct from Hadith Qudsi (where the meaning is from God but the wording is from the Prophet) and Hadith Nabawi (Prophetic tradition). Muslims believe the Qur'an to be the final revelation to humanity, confirming and superseding previous scriptures such as the Torah (Tawrat), Psalms (Zabur), and Gospel (Injeel).
Definition
Etymology
The word Qur'an is derived from the Arabic root q-r-ʾ (ق ر أ), meaning "to read" or "to recite." It appears 70 times in the text itself, often referring to individual passages or the revelation as a collective whole.
Structure and Content
The Qur'an is not arranged chronologically by date of revelation, but rather by an order divinely appointed to the Prophet ﷺ.
Surahs (Chapters)
The book is divided into 114 Surahs. These are categorized into two eras:
- Meccan (Makki): Revealed before the Migration (Hijrah). These chapters typically focus on faith (Iman), the Oneness of God (Tawhid), the Afterlife, and stories of past Prophets. They are often shorter with more powerful, rhythmic prose.
- Medinan (Madani): Revealed after the Migration to Madinah. These chapters focus on legal rulings (Ahkam), social transactions, warfare, and community building. They are generally longer.
Ayahs (Verses)
Each Surah consists of verses known as Ayahs (literally "Signs"). The shortest Surah (Al-Kawthar) has only 3 verses, while the longest (Al-Baqarah) has 286.
Preservation and Compilation
The preservation of the Qur'an passed through three distinct historical stages, ensuring the text we have today is identical to what was revealed.
1. The Era of the Prophet ﷺ (610–632 CE)
During the life of the Prophet, the Qur'an was preserved primarily through memory (Hifz). Whenever a verse was revealed, the Prophet would recite it to his Companions, who would memorize it immediately. He also instructed scribes (such as Zayd ibn Thabit) to write verses on available materials like parchment, bone, and palm stalks. At this stage, the Qur'an was not compiled into a single bound book.
2. The Era of Abu Bakr (632–634 CE)
Following the Battle of Yamama, where many memorizers (Huffaz) were martyred, Umar ibn al-Khattab advised the Caliph Abu Bakr to compile the Qur'an to prevent its loss. Abu Bakr appointed Zayd ibn Thabit to gather the written fragments and verify them against the memorization of the Companions. This resulted in the first complete, written copy (Mushaf).
3. The Era of Uthman (644–656 CE)
As Islam expanded into non-Arab lands, differences in pronunciation (dialects) began to cause confusion. To unify the Ummah, the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan ordered the production of a standard copy based on the compilation of Abu Bakr and the Quraishi dialect. Copies were sent to major provinces, and all other non-standard fragments were burned to prevent division. This text, known as the Uthmani Mushaf, is the same text recited globally today.
- Indexes: A complete list of all 114 Surahs, Juz divisions, and thematic indexes.
- Introduction: A beginner's guide to understanding the themes and purpose of the book.
- Methodology: Our project's guidelines on Tafsir (interpretation) and translation sources.
